Colander



Dec. 8 1936. P. A. CHAMBERLAIN.

COLANDER Filed June 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1936. P. A. CHAMBERLAIN COLANDER Filed, June 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLANDER Application June 19, 1934, Serial No. 731,315

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a colander of the type through which food or other materials are adapted to be passed for the purpose of comminuting the same for separating portions therefrom.

An object of the invention is to provide a generally improved colander of rotary form wherein the material is subjected to a combined rubbing and squeezing action to comminute the material and force it through the screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a colander wherein material is worked between a roller and a screen which are so shaped as to be self-cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a colander wherein a screen in sheet form carries the material to be acted upon in which position the material is subjected to the action of a resilient roller.

I have also aimed to provide a colander wherein the material is worked between a screen and a roller, and which is provided with means for holding larger objects within the zone of action.

I have also aimed to provide a colander wherein a plurality of screens are quickly interchangeable for use with different types of materials.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a colander of compact form adapted to occupy a relatively small amount of space, so arranged as to be capable of ease and rapid assembly and disassembly and of a structure for disassembly into parts of a size and shape for effective and easy cleaning.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation .of a colander embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the screen showing portions of the container section with the screen in a position to be inserted in the bottom opening of the container, and I Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the outside of the colander showing the junction between the screen and the container.

For the purpose of illustration I have herein shown'the colander in connection with electrical means for driving the same, but I desire it to be understood that the device is not limited to such operation. In this instance the colander is adapted to be driven from an electric mixer unit of well-known form having a platform 8 carrying a pedestal 9 for the purpose of supporting a mixer unit ll pivotally carried on the pedestal through latch means l2 and having a depending beater spindle I3 above a portion of the platform 8. A power transfer unit [4 has a leg I5 adapted to be received in openings in the platform 8 and carrying a casing I6 enclosing a worm gear I1. The power transfer unit also carries an upwardly extending spindle l8 r'eceivable within the beater spindle l3 and having a worm l9 cooperating with the worm gear I!- to drive a horizontally disposed shaft 2|. The power transfer unit has a sleeve 22 through which the shaft 2| extends and within which a sleeve 23 of the colander is secured by means of a set screw 24 which serves to fixedly connect the sleeves 22 of the power transfer unit and 23 of the colander, whereby to support they colander on the power transfer unit in driving relationship therewith.

The sleeve 23 forms part of a frame which also includes a cylindrical portion 25 which has a cylindrical outer surface for the reception of a flange 26 of a container designated generally I end of a set screw 34 to retain the shaft in position within the sleeve. The outer end of the shaft 32 has a tongue 35 adapted for reception in a groove (not shown) located in the end of the shaft 2| for driving the shaft 32 from the power transfer unit.

The container 21 has a cylindrical lower portion designated generally by the numeral 36 provided on its upper side with a hopper designated generally by the numeral 31, the hopper being open at its upper end and the lower end or throat thereof opening into the cylindrical portion 36. One end of the container is open between the flange '26 as shown at 38. The lower side of the cylindrical portion 36 is open as shown at 39 for the reception of a screen designated generally by the numeral 4| The screen 4| is of general arcuate crosssection as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and at one end has fingers 42 and 43, each of which is attached to the screen as shown at 44 (Fig. 5) and is bent away from the screen as shown at 35 whereby to be spaced therefrom for the reception of one edge 46 of the opening 39, the metal of the cylindrical portion 2-6 being bent as shown at 4? whereby to bring the upper surface of the screen flush with the general contour of the cylindrical portion 36. The metal adjacent the opposite end of the opening 39 is bent in like manner as shown at 53 to provide a recess for the reception of the opposite end of the screen ii which also carries one or more blocks iii adapted to bear against the edge of the opening 39 when the screen is pressed into position and to thereby retain the screen in position. The screen M is of sinuous cross-section throughout the greater portion of its width as shown in Fig. 3, this configuration being caused by a plurality of ribs 5i extending crosswise of the screen. These ribs terminate short of the edges of the screen as shown at 52, the screen being supported along its edges by means of flanges 53 and Ed on the ends of the container.

A roller 55 of substantially the same length as the width of the screen t! and having a sinuous outer surface formed by the ribs 56, has a bore 51 flared outwardly from the center toward each end for the purpose of supporting the roller on a rod 58 which is attached to one end of a spring steel arm 53, the other end of the arm being carried on the inner end of the shaft 32 whereby the arm 59 is caused to rotate with the shaft, thus moving the roller 55 along the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 36. The roller 55 is of resilient material, preferably soft rubber, and the ribs 58 are spaced to be received within the spaces between the ribs 5! of the screen much in the manner of gear teeth so that when the roller passes over the screen, the material on the screen is subjected to both a rubbing and a squeezing action. In order toprevent the material within the container from being continuously forced ahead of the roller in its rotation, I have employed a wire designated generally by the numeral 6i which consists of a loop 62 adapted to receive one side of the hopper and to extend into the hopper as shown in Fig. 3, and a cross rod 63 within the cylindrical portion 36 normally supported in spaced relation to the screen M by means of arcuate portions 64. The portions (i l have substantially the the same curvature as the side walls of the cylindrical portion 36, but are generated about a different center so as to normally tend to spring upward to support the cross rod 63 in spaced relation to the spring and thereby contact larger pieces of the contents to cause them to be engaged between the roller and the screen. The arcuate portions 5 permit the cross rod 63 to be sprung downward against the screen as shown in Fig. 3 upon contact of the roller so that the roller passes freely over the abutment formed by the cross rod 63. A projection 65 may advantageously be formed in the hopper to abut the loop 62 and prevent the loop from being forced upward by pressure of the roller against the abutment 63.

While I have shown but a single screen ll, it will be obvious that a plurality of such screens may be provided, each having openings of different size or different shape characteristics to accommodate them to different operations for different types of materials.

aoca'rei The material to be treated is introduced into the colander through the opening of the hopper 3'? and falls down into the cylindrical portion 36 and onto the screen ii. The roller 55 is rotated around the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 36 through rotation of the shaft 32. As the roller comes into contact with the screen, the material is kept between the sinuous surfaces of the roller and screen and is rubbed and pressed. In the case of fruits, this operation breaks up the solid fruit, -liberating the juice which flows through the perforations in the screen. Simultaneously the fruit is pressed and rubbed in such manner as to liberate the pulp which likewise is forced through these perforations. The seeds and skin being of tougher and harder material frequently will not be broken into such small pieces as to be forced through the perforations and will be retained on the screen, the resiliency of the roller permitting the same to pass over the skins and seeds. In the case of certain materials such as tomatoes, prunes, and similar materials, there may be a tendency for the fruit to be moved ahead of the roller, but they will come into contact with the rod 63 which serves to break the skin and cause them to be wedged between the cross member $3, the roller and the screen and be crushed at this point. As the roller continues its rotation and. the seeds and skins or similar impassable material collect on the screen, they will be gradually forced outward toward the edges of the screen due to the termination of the ribs 5! short of the edge of the screen leaving a space for their reception. This action is further brought about by the flared opening in the roller which permits the resilient material of the roller to be displaced upward to provide space for the seeds and skins. In this manner the screen is self-cleaning, even though it is horizontally positioned.

Attention is directed to the improved structural characteristics of my invention. The container is easily removed from the frame by simply rotating the container a portion of a turn and withdrawing the flange from the cylindrical portion 25 of the frame. When this is done, the roller 55. is loose within the container and may be freely removed. In like manner the skins and seeds can be merely dumped through the opening 38 and the container flushed out by means of running water. Likewise, the screen 4| is very easily removable either for washing or for replacement by a screen of different shape characteristics by merely pushing upward on the bottom of the screen so that the blocks #9 clear the edge of the opening 33, whereupon the opposite edge of the opening 39 may be withdrawn from between the edge of the screen and the fingers 45. The loop 62 may be removed from the hopper with equal facility in an obvious manner. When the colander is thus disassembled, all of the parts are readily accessible for cleaning, the screen is entirely free of the other mechanism for easy cleaning, as is the roller 55. Attention is also directed to the simplicity of the construction and the speed with which it may be assembled anddisassembled without the use of bolts, screws,- or other similar cumbersome fastening means.

A feature of considerable importance is the manner in which the material is subjected to both a rubbing and squeezing action without the use of complicated spring devices by the use of the resilient roller 55 and the sinuous surfaces of the screen and roller and the manner in which the screen is made to be self-cleaning.

While I have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, I am aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, in which- I claim:

1. The combination in a colander of an arcuate screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a roller arranged for resilient contact with said screen and having a sinuous surface positioned for intermeshing engagement with said screen, and a crank supporting said roller for revolution around substantially the center of curvature of said screen to intermittently move the roller over the screen.

2. The combination in a colander of a horizontally disposed cylindrical container having a bottom opening, an arcuate screen positioned across said opening, said screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a resilient roller, and means for supporting the roller on its axis and for moving the roller annularly in the container across the surface of the screen and in surface contact therewith to press material through the screen.

3. The combination in a colander of a container having a horizontally disposed cylindrical portion and a bottom opening, an arcuate screen positioned across said opening, said screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a resilient roller, means for moving the roller annularly in the container to press material through the screen, and means for impeding movement of the material ahead of the roller.

4. The combination in a colander of a screen having a sinuous surface, a roller of resilient material having a sinuous surface positioned for intermeshing engagement with said screen, said roller having a central bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends thereof, and a cylindrical rod received in the bore to support the roller for rotation over the screen, said flared bore imparting self cleaning properties to the colander.

5. The combination in a colander of a screen having a central portion of sinuous form and adjacent side portions, a roller of resilient material having a sinuous surface positioned for intermeshing engagement with said screen, said roller having a central bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends of the roller, and a cylindrical rod received in the bore to support the roller, for rotation against the screen, said flared bore promoting migration of solids from the center of the screen toward said side portions to continuously clean said screen.

6. The combination in a colander of a screen having a central portion of sinuous form and adjacent side portions, a roller of resilient material having a sinuous surface positioned for intermeshing engagement with said screen, said roller having a central bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends thereof, a cylindrical rod received in the bore to support the roller for rotation against the screen, and means for confining material on the screen arranged to support the screen along said side portions.

7. In a colander, a cylindrical roller of resilient material having a sinuous outer surface and a longitudinal bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends thereof.

8. In a colander, a cylindrical roller of soft rubber having a sinuous outer surface and a longitudinal bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends thereof.

9. The combination in a colander of a container having a screen, a roller arranged to pass over the screen to press material therethrough and an abutment in spaced relation to the screen positioned to resist movement of material on the screen ahead of the roller, and resilient means for supporting the abutment for movement against the screen upon advancement of the roller for passage of the roller thereover.

10. In a colander, a cylindrical roller having a sinuous outer surface and a longitudinal bore flared outwardly from the center to the ends thereof.

11. The combination in a colander of an arcuate screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a roller having a sinuous surface extending annularly thereof, the sinuations of the screen and the roller being substantially complemental and means for supporting and revolving said roller about the axis of curvature of said screen in surface contact therewith and in intermeshing engagement with the sinuations of said screen to concurrently rotate the roller on its own axis.

12. The combination in a colander of an arouate screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a roller having a complementary sinuous surface extending annularly thereof, a crank rotatable about the axis of curvature of said screen for rotatably supporting the roller on an eccentric axis in surface contact with and in intermeshing engagement with said screen, and means for rotating said crank.

13. The combination in a colander of a sheet metal container having a bottom and a large side opening of lesser radius than the container, and an outwardly extending flange surrounding the side opening, a frame for supporting the container including a body portion receivable in said flange and closing said side opening, a bayonet connection between the flange and the body, a screen within said container releasably secured across said bottom opening, a crank of lesser length than the radius of said side opening carried on said frame and having a pin extending into said container adjacent the periphery of the side opening, and a roller for rotation thereon in said container, the roller extending beyond the periphery of said side opening to bear against the screen and to press material through the screen.

14. The combination in a colander of an arouate screen having a sinuous surface extending longitudinally of its curvature, a roller arranged for contact with said screen and having a sinuous surface substantially complemental to and positioned for intermeshing engagement with said screen, a crank for supporting said roller for movement along the surface of said screen to crush material between the roller and the screen and press the material through the latter.

PAUL A. CHANIBERLAIN. 

